Step on bug game

ABSTRACT

A game is provided comprising a portable semi-rigid circular sheet of plastic material, for example, in which are integrally formed a plurality of randomly oriented bulges projecting upwardly from the surrounding surface of the sheet. A central bulge is provided, under which is placed a battery operated or other electric alarm. Under any of the other bulges may be placed a circuit closing switch, the circuit wires extending between said switch and the alarm. The upper surface of each bulge is provided with a likeness of a bug or bugs to add interest to the game. A contestant, not knowing under which bulge the circuit closing means is placed, attempts to step on as many bulges as he can, without stepping on that bulge having the circuit closing means thereunder, as when he steps on that one the game is over for that contestant.

United States Patent Petrusek Dec. 23, 1975 STEP ON BUG GAME [76]Inventor: Victor Petrusek, 18511 Gottschalk, [57] ABSTRACT Homewood60430 A game is provided comprising a portable semi-rigid [22] Filed:Apr. 8, 1975 circular sheet of plastic material, for example, in whichare integrally formed a plurality of randomly [2]] Appl' 566s22 orientedbulges projecting upwardly from the surrounding surface of the sheet. Acentral bulge is pro- [52] U.S. CI 273/] E; 273/] A; 273/138 A vided,under which is placed a battery operated or [51] Int. Cl. A63B 67/00other electric alarm. Under any of the other bulges [58] Field ofSearch..... 273/] R, l E, l A, 102.1 B, may be placed a circuit closingswitch, the circuit 273/ l02.l C, 102.2 R, 130 AB, 138 A wires extendingbetween said switch and the alarm. The upper surface of each bulge isprovided with a [56] References Cited likeness of a bug or bugs to addinterest to the game.

UNITED STATES PATENTS A contestant, not knowing under which bulge thecir- 3,091,4s4 5/1963 Sam 273/1 A cult Closing means is a attempts toStep as 3,092,390 6/l963 Super.... 273/1 E x many bulges as he steppingbulge 3,468,535 9/l969 Obst 273/1022 R x having the circuit Closingmeans thereunder, as when 3,503,609 3/1970 \Vojdat 273/1 E h steps on hne th g me is over for that contes- Primary Examiner-Paul E. ShapiroAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Sabin C. Bronson tant.

5 Claims, 4 Dmwing Figures U.S. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 3,927,880

STEP ON BUG GAME BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY This game is of the order of thewell known game of Hopscotch which comprises a series of prearrangedbulges to be stepped on in a certain order by a player.

In Applicants game there is no set order of the bulges to be stepped onby the player. To make the game more interesting the bulges are eachmarked with a representation of a bug so that the player gets the ideahe is stepping on a bug each time he steps on a bulge.

Any number of players of any age may play the game. The object of thegame is to step on a certain number of the bulges without sounding thealarm. The first player to successfully do this, wins the game.

The players can suggest ways to play the game. For instance, they canspecify that a player must step on ten of the fourteen bulges withoutsounding the alarm. Not knowing which bulge triggers the alarm whenstepped on, maka it a very interesting game.

Or the players can state any number of the bulges that must be steppedon without sounding the alarm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a circularsheet having the bulges and the alarm indicated therein.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the switch for activating thealarm.

FIG. 4 is an exploded enlarged perspective view of the parts comprisingthe switch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 of thedrawing there is shown a circular sheet or relatively thin plasticmaterial 10, thick enough, however, to be free of wrinkles when placeddown on a flat surface, but which may be rolled up without damaging thebulges, and moved to another location when desired.

The bulges or bumps 12 are simply upwardly pressed segmentally shapedportions which are randomly arranged about a central bulge or bump 14.Under the central bulge 14 is an electric alarm 15 capable whenactivated of emitting a relatively loud noise. The alarm used may be anyof various types commonly used in this type of toy. The circuit wiresfrom the alarm are shown at 16, and these wires are long enough to reachfrom the alarm to any of the bulges 12.

The switch, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, at the other end of the wires 16,comprises a circular metal base plate 18 of a size to snugly fit under abulge 12. One of the circuit wires 16 extends to the edge of this plate.A sponge rubber disc 20 is concentrically disposed on the base plate 18,and another circular metal plate 24 the same size as the base plate, isplaced on top of the rubber disc, so that the disc holds the platesnormally separated. The other circuit wire 16 extends from the edge ofthis upper circular plate to the alarm mechanism 15, not shown indetail, but common in such installations. The upper surface of the upperplate 24 has a thin layer of sponge rubber material 22 thereon shaped soas to fit underneath one of the raised portions or bulges 12 withoutdistorting same, so that it has the same appearance as the other bulges12.

A representation of a bug is indicated on the surface of each bulge, sothat a contestant has the idea he is stepping on a bug each time hesteps on a bulge.

It is thus apparent that the game may be played by any number ofplayers, and to start the game the switch is placed under one of thebumps or bulges 12, as indicated in FIG. 2. The location of this switchis unknown to a contestant when starting the game. The contestant thenproceeds to step on the bulges successively until he happens to step onthat bulge having the switch thereunder which will immediately cause theplates 24 and 18 to contact each other and actuate the alarm, which endsthe game for that contestant.

Then unbeknown to the next contestant, the switch is placed underanother bump or bulge l2 and then the next contestant proceeds to tryhis luck to see how many bulges he can step on before stepping on thebulge having the switch thereunder.

I claim:

1. A game comprising in combination a portable flat sheet, having aplurality of integral bulges randomly formed about the surface of thesheet, an alarm under one of the bulges, circuit closing switch meansunder another bulge, electrically connected to said alarm, so that whenthe bulge having the switch thereunder is stepped on by a contestant,the alarm will sound.

2. The structure of claim I, wherein the circuit closing switchcomprises a pair of plates, and a resilient material holding the platesslightly separated until stepped on.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein each bulge is provided on itssurface with a representation of a bug.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein said alarm is under the centermostof said bulges.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein said switch means may be placedunder any of said bulges other than the centermost one.

1. A game comprising in combination a portable flat sheet, having aplurality of integral bulges randomly formed about the surface of thesheet, an alarm under one of the bulges, circuit closing switch meansunder another bulge, electrically connected to said alarm, so that whenthe bulge having the switch thereunder is stepped on by a contestant,the alarm will sound.
 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the circuitclosing switch comprises a pair of plates, and a resilient materialholding the plates slightly separated until stepped on.
 3. The structureof claim 1, wherein each bulge is provided on its surface with arepresentation of a bug.
 4. The structure of claim 1, wherein said alarmis under the centermost of said bulges.
 5. The structure of claim 1,wherein said switch means may be placed under any of said bulges otherthan the centermost one.